Research and Thesis Projects
Interested in joining us as at the pre-PhD level?
We have multiple ways for interested folks to get involved in the research underway within the Social Brain Sciences Lab, whether for a short stint or a longer term engagement. We are a diverse, fun, and energetic bunch, who welcome all comers to join in the SBS party!
Internships, Undergrad, and Master Thesis Projects
At this stage, we prioritise welcoming external interns/thesis students who wish to stay for 3 months or longer, for whom a . Please also include in your email to Tessa an introductory message of no more than 200 words, explaining who you are, where you’re coming from, and what you’re hoping to get out of a stay with our team. Tessa will then share your intro message, your application and CV to our dedicated internal interns and thesis students slack channel, and depending on lab availability, the aims of your visit, and how long you want to stay, we will be in touch about the following steps if there is a position available for you.
Please note: incoming interns are responsible for arranging their own funding for their stay. The SBS lab or the ETH student Exchange office do not provide any scholarship funds. For further information about preparing the financial aspects of your stay, check the ETH website.
Contact our Office Manager Claudia Boschung with any further procedural questions. If you write directly to Prof. Emily Cross about joining the lab in one of these positions, she is not be able to send individual replies.
Paid Research Assistant - Child-Robot Interaction & Neuroscience
We are looking for a paid Research Assistant (RA) to support two research projects at the Social Brains Science Group at ETH Zürich.
The first project investigates children’s wellbeing through interactions with a social robot. Data collection will take place in schools, and the RA will support two postdoctoral researchers by helping with the children, controlling the robot during sessions. The robot is operated through a simple visual interface, so no technical or robotics experience is required. You may also support the recording and processing of qualitative data, including interviews with children, parents, and teachers. Because the study involves children in schools, we are looking for someone who speaks German, enjoys interacting with children, and has good social and communication skills.
The second project is a neuroscience study investigating how people perceive and respond to interactions with an AI agent. You will support one of our postdoctoral researchers with the preparation and running of fMRI and behavioral testing sessions. This may include preparing study materials, contacting and scheduling participants, welcoming and guiding participants through the study, assisting during scanning sessions, and helping with the organization, preparation, or analysis of behavioral data. No previous fMRI experience is required, but we are looking for someone who is reliable, well organized, comfortable interacting with participants (in English and in German).
Requirements
- Currently enrolled as a full-time student at a Swiss university
- Based in Zürich
- German-speaking (minimum: B2 level)
- Reliable, organized, and comfortable working with children and research participants
- Available for weekday and occasional full-day data-collection sessions (in November).
- You are a psychology/neuroscience/ cognitive science student
Position details
- Contract Start: ideally 12 October 2026
- Contract: until 31 December 2026
- Workload: approx. 10 hours/week, increasing to around 15 hours/week during peak data collection (November)
- Peak period: November
- Maximum: 140 hours total
- Location: Zürich and participating schools in the Zürich area
- Position: Paid
How to apply
Please send a short introduction including your degree programme and university, German-language proficiency, relevant experience or interests, and availability from October to December to .
Master’s Thesis/Internship Opportunity: Artists’ Perspectives on Robot Art
We are seeking a motivated Master’s student to contribute to an interdisciplinary research project investigating how artists understand the use of robots in artistic practice. The project is particularly suited to students from psychology, the social sciences, or related behavioural science disciplines. Students with an additional interest in art, art history, creativity, or human-robot interaction are especially encouraged to apply. Preferred Start Date: 01.10.2026
Keywords: Qualitative Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, Robot Art, Creativity, Artistic Identity
• Description
Robots are increasingly being used as creative tools and collaborators in artistic practice. This raises important questions about creativity, authorship, artistic identity, skill, and the role of technology in art.
The student will contribute primarily to a qualitative study involving interviews with artists who use robots in their practice and artists who do not. The aim is to identify potential tensions, differences, and shared perspectives between these groups.
The Master’s thesis will primarily focus on the interview study and qualitative analysis. Depending on the student’s interests and skillset, selected elements of a related online study on perceptions of robot- and human-made paintings may also be included.
• Goal
What you can learn: - Qualitative interviewing - Recruitment and communication with research participants - Coding and thematic analysis of interview data - Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of psychology, social science, robotics, and art - The possibility to develop the project into a Master’s thesis
• Contact Details
Are you interested? We'd love to hear from you!
Please send a short CV and Motivation Letter to Dr. Jacqueline Borgstedt ()
Calendar
Earliest start2026-10-01Latest end2027-03-31
Location
external page Professorship for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (ETHZ)